Shifter issues
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Freshman User
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From: Detroit
Shifter issues
I have a 95 F150 with the mazda 5-speed. I am able to shift through all the gears without grinding, but it's really sloppy. I'm going to be leaving on a trip in a couple weeks, and my girlfriend has a really tough time driving the truck. I pulled the boot, and noticed that there are three torx screws holding the shifter in. I found a ranger in a salvage yard that also has a mazda 5-speed that shifts excellent. Can I remove the torx screws and just swap the shifter assembly, or would I have to remove the whole top cover? If the swap will fix the problem, do I have to have the trans in neutral when I do it?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Elder User
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Make sure the Ranger cover is the same. They use the M5R1 and the F150 uses the M5R2. They look the same but the R1 is a scaled down version of the R2 and I heard parts may not interchange.
The solution depends on what your problem is. If the shifter itself is worn, then you just need the shifter and as you noted, it will come off by itself. It the problem is that the shift forks that slide the gears back and forth are worn, then you would need that and you would want to remove the whole top cover. I think the shop manual says to put the trans in neutral when replacing the top cover. I had better luck with it in first but maybe that's just me.
The solution depends on what your problem is. If the shifter itself is worn, then you just need the shifter and as you noted, it will come off by itself. It the problem is that the shift forks that slide the gears back and forth are worn, then you would need that and you would want to remove the whole top cover. I think the shop manual says to put the trans in neutral when replacing the top cover. I had better luck with it in first but maybe that's just me.
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Hurst makes a new shifter for the M5R2 called the billet plus truck shifter. I just bought one for $200 and will be putting it into my 66 F100 as part of my trans swap. It has a reduced throw too so shifts won't be so cumbersome. Of course as gustang said...if its the shift forks are worn then a new shifter won't help much. Make sure you have fresh ATF (yes that's right...in a manual trans) in it.
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BikerDude just reminded me--the other thing about the M5OD is to check the shift rail plugs and replace them if they have been leaking. Otherwise it will run low on fluid and burn up the trans. That's why I had my top cover off. 
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...e_Measure.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...e_Measure.html
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Freshman User
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From: Detroit
Well it took my shifter off, and it looks like the shift forks are toast. About how much is it going to cost for the forks, and where can I get them? Do I have to pull the trans to replace them?
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I suppose the dealer would be one place. You might also find a transmission parts vendor like motivegear.com If you took the trans tunnel cover off then you can get to the top cover and remove it. The forks will come out with the cover.
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From: Detroit
Originally Posted by gustang818
I suppose the dealer would be one place. You might also find a transmission parts vendor like motivegear.com If you took the trans tunnel cover off then you can get to the top cover and remove it. The forks will come out with the cover.
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Freshman User
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From: Detroit
Also, could I use the cover from a Ranger? I know some parts are interchangeable, but I'd like to know b4 I pull it off as there are a lot more Rangers than f150s in my local upull.
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I don't know the answer to that. Maybe the junkyard has an interchange list and they can tell you. Another alternative would be to find a friendly parts man at Fords and ask him to check if the part numbers are the same. Otherwise you need to compare the two by taking measurements or making a template. Try posting in the Ranger forum and ask if the M5R1 top cover and shift forks are the same as the M5R2. Let us know what you find out.
Posting Guru
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I helped my friend put in some new pieces in shift linkage on his 91 Ranger as it shifted terrible. He got parts from dealer and they were all on top and old ones were broken and one piece was completely gone. After install it shifted ok. That was about 6 months ago. The other day he said it was shifting kind of bad and checked the fluid level and added a qt of auto tranny fluid and made it better, but not perfect. I'm suspecting worn forks or rails now. Do like gustang 818 said and also do a search on ranger forum.
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From: Detroit
Well I replaced the pins and the boot seal, and it now shifts much better. However, when I was pulled the cover I found what appears to be a roller bearing about the size of a grain of rice laying inside. Although it shifts okay without it, I'm sure that it's there for a reason. Does anybody have any ideas where this may have come from?
